Methods and Apparatus for Handling Products

ABSTRACT

Apparatus ( 10 ) loads product in the form of bags into a carton held at a tilt angle. The leading ends of the bags on an adjustment conveyor ( 20 ) are abutted by a bumper ( 30 ) to reorient the bags 90° on the adjustment conveyor ( 20 ). The downstream roller ( 44 ) of a twist conveyor ( 40 ) is tilted to collate bags on a decline conveyor ( 70 ). The collated bags are moved on an orientation conveyor ( 74 ) to engage a product scoop ( 110 ) extending at an inclined position and moved to a vertical position to vertically orient the bags. The orientation conveyor ( 74 ) is moved to an offset position to allow the bags to drop onto a lowerator ( 92 ) of an accumulator ( 86 ) where they can be sandwiched between retainer plates ( 88, 90 ). A pusher plate ( 94 ) pushes the bags off the lowerator ( 92 ) into the carton and is tilted to correspond to the tilt angle of the carton.

BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to apparatus and methods forfilling cartons and specifically to devices and methods for receiving,orientating, shifting, collating and handling products synergisticallycombined to fill products into cartons.

Many products are retailed in bags which contain product such as foodsincluding potato chips, tortilla chips, cookies, and other snack items,which bags must be placed in cartons for storage and transportation.Thus, there is a need in the field of packaging products for methods forquickly and efficiently filling cartons with bags which are costeffective, which do not damage the product, and which are relativelytrouble free.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the fieldof packaging products by providing, in the preferred form, novel methodsand devices for handling products and which may be synergisticallyrelated for filling products into cartons.

In an aspect of the present invention, methods and device are providedfor changing the orientation of a product 90° being conveyed on aconveyor by abutting the leading end of the product at an extent lessthan one half of the width of the product. In preferred forms, theproduct is abutted by a bumper which in most preferred forms is pivotalbetween an abutting position and a noninterfering position. In furtherpreferred forms, the product is pushed by a pusher moving in theconveying direction after the product is oriented 90° and is moved to beparallel and closely adjacent to a product guide before abutting withthe bumper.

In a further aspect of the present invention, product is collated byconveying a second product on a first conveyor in a first conveyingdirection onto a product moved by a second conveyor in a secondconveying direction perpendicular to the first conveying direction andfor a distance less than the length of the product. In preferred forms,the angle of the downstream roller of the first conveyor is adjusted ina plane parallel to the second conveying direction to minimize the dropof the product from the second conveyor. Further, the second conveyor isinclined downwardly so that product has a lower extent when moved in thesecond conveying direction.

In still further aspects of the present invention, a product scoop ismoved between an extended, inclined position to a retracted verticalposition as product is moved onto the product scoop to orient collatedproduct vertically. In most preferred forms, the collated product ismoved by being conveyed upon an orientation conveyor and by being pushedby a pusher moving at an equal speed to the orientation conveyor.

In other aspects of the present invention, product located on a conveyoris dropped into an accumulator by moving the conveyor from an alignedposition above the accumulator to a position offset from theaccumulator. Product is supported upon a lowerator in the accumulatorwhich can be lowered to below the conveyor in the offset position andcan be compressed against the conveyor in the aligned position inpreferred forms. Further, the pusher plate which forms one side of theaccumulator can be tilted when moving parallel to the lowerator tocorrespond to the tilt angle of the carton when pushing product from theaccumulator into the carton.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the followingdetailed description of an illustrative embodiment of this inventiondescribed in connection with the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an apparatus for loading bags into acarton utilizing methods according to preferred teachings of the presentinvention, with portions broken away to view internal components.

FIGS. 2A-2C show perspective views of the orientation adjustment deviceof the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show perspective views of the orientation adjustment andcollating devices of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4A-4D show perspective views of the collating and orientationchanging devices of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the orientation changing device andaccumulator of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 shows an end view of the orientation changing device andaccumulator of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of the product pusher of the accumulatorof the apparatus of FIG. 1.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings ofthe present invention only; the extensions of the Figures with therespect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the partsto form the preferred embodiment will be explained or will be within theskill of the art after the following teachings of the present inventionhave been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions anddimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength,and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the artafter the following teachings of the present invention have been readand understood.

Where used in the various figures of the drawings, the same numeralsdesignate the same or similar parts. Furthermore, when the terms “top”,“bottom”, “first”, “second”, “side”, “end”, “inner”, “outer”, “inside”,“outside”, “upper”, “lower”, “front”, “rear”, “back”, and similar termsare used herein, it should be understood that these terms have referenceonly to the structure shown in the drawings as it would appear to aperson viewing the drawings and are utilized only to facilitatedescribing the preferred embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An apparatus for loading product in the form of bags into a cartonutilizing methods according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention is shown in the drawings and generally designated 10. For thesake of example, bags being loaded are the type having a generally finsealed tube (with or without gussets) with sealed ends commonly utilizedfor many food products including but not limited to potato chips,tortilla chips, cakes and other snack items. However, it should beappreciated that apparatus 10 and the methods of the present inventionwould have application to other types and forms of bags and/or othertypes of products than that shown and described for purposes ofproviding an illustrative embodiment.

Typically, during the production of product contained in bags, such bagswill be outputted in an orientation. As an example, in the case of tubeshaped, sealed end bags, typically, the bags will be outputted with oneof the sealed ends leading the bag and the other end trailing the bag.Bags are often transported such as by conveyors in the orientation thatthey are outputted, which may not be the desired orientation whenfilling a carton. Thus, apparatus 10 includes an orientation adjustmentdevice 16 receiving bags from the output conveyor 18. In particular,bags are received from output conveyor 18 onto an adjustment conveyor 20which conveys the bags in a conveying direction at a greater speed thanoutput conveyor 18 to insure that a minimum distance exists between thetrailing and leading ends of the bags. A vertical guide 22 is providedalong one edge of adjustment conveyor 20 parallel to the conveyingdirection. It is desired that the bags are conveyed on adjustmentconveyor 20 such that they slide against or are closely adjacent toguide 22. In the most preferred form, a vertical belt device 24 ispivotably mounted about a vertical axis adjacent to the infeed end ofadjustment conveyor 20 and angles towards guide 22. The free end ofdevice 24 is spaced from guide 22 generally equal to the width of thebags. In the most preferred form, the angle of vertical belt device 24as well as the length of the vertical belt device 24 along the conveyingdirection is adjustable to allow adjustment for various sizes of bags.If bags are received on adjustment conveyor 20 in a nonparallel mannerand/or spaced from guide 22, such bags will engage and be pushed byvertical belt device 24 due to its angular relation to the conveyingdirection such that such bags are pushed laterally upon adjustmentconveyor 20 to be parallel and closely adjacent to guide 22 and withinan effective product conveying width of adjustment conveyor 20.

Orientation adjustment device 16 further includes a bumper 30 moveablebetween an abutting position and a noninterfering position such as butnot limited to by an air cylinder. In the most preferred form, bumper 30is within the path of the bags moving on adjustment conveyor 20 in theabutting position and is removed from the path of the bags moving onadjustment conveyor 20 in the noninterfering position. In the mostpreferred form shown, bumper 30 is moveable by being pivotable about avertical axis perpendicular to the conveying direction and spaceddownstream from guide 22. Particularly, bumper 30 is pivotable betweenthe parallel, coextensive, noninterfering position relative to guide 22and the bumping position extending at an acute angle to the conveyingdirection and guide 22 and with its upstream, leading end spacedinwardly from guide 22 an extent generally perpendicular to theconveying direction less than half and in preferred forms generallyequal to one eight of the width of the leading ends of the bags beingconveyed on adjustment conveyor 20. It should be appreciated that due tothe abutment with bumper 30, the bags will turn 90° on adjustmentconveyor 20 such that their widths are parallel to the conveyingdirection. After the bags are turned, bumper 30 is moved to itsnoninterfering position.

Orientation adjustment device 16 further includes a bag pusher 32pivotally mounted to a mount 34 about a horizontal pivot axis spacedabove adjustment conveyor 20 perpendicular to the conveying direction.Pusher 32 is pivotal between a home position parallel to and spacedabove adjustment conveyor 20 and a pushing position perpendicular toadjustment conveyor 20 and the conveying direction. Pusher 32 is alsomoveable in the conveying direction while in the pushing position.Particularly, in the preferred form, mount 34 is movable between adownstream position and an upstream position along a path parallel toand spaced above adjustment conveyor 20 and the conveying direction. Inthe most preferred form shown, mount 34 is attached to a belt of a beltand pulley drive system 36. In the most preferred form, the bags areconveyed from adjustment conveyor 20 onto a twist conveyor 40, with thepusher 32 in the upstream position being above adjustment conveyor 20and upstream of twist conveyor 40 and being above twist conveyor 40 anddownstream of adjustment conveyor 20 in the downstream position. In themost preferred form, adjustment and twist conveyors 20 and 40 have equalconveying speeds, but pusher 32 moves slightly faster than adjustmentconveyor 20 in the conveying direction. If a change in orientation isnot desired, bumper 30 can remain in its noninterfering position and bagpusher can remain in its home position.

Twist conveyor 40 includes an upstream roller 42, a downstream roller 44and a suitable continuous annular conveying surface 46 extendingtherebetween. Roller 42 is suitably rotatably mounted to the frame andin the preferred form is driven such as by a belt and pulley drive.Downstream roller 44 is rotatably mounted to first and second mountingplates 48.

Apparatus 10 according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention includes a decline, collating conveyor 70 oriented transverseto twist conveyor 40 and the conveying direction of conveyors 20 and 40,with bags being conveyed from twist conveyor 40 onto decline conveyor70. In the most preferred form, decline conveyor 70 slopes downwardly ata small acute angle and in the most preferred form at an angle of 15°.Decline conveyor 70 is intermittently driven such as by a servomotor.

Suitable provisions are provided to tilt downstream roller 44 at variousangles relative to the horizontal. Specifically, in the preferred formshown, first and second track sets 52 are arranged vertically onopposite ends of roller 44. A carriage 54 is movably mounted on eachtrack set 52. First and second legs of a clevis 56 are pivotably mountedto carriage 54 adjacent to the upstream end of decline conveyor 70 abouta pivot axis generally parallel to the conveying direction. A head ofclevis 56 is mounted to a corresponding one of mounting plates 48 by auniversal joint 58 which allows pivotal movement in multiple dimensions.The other mounting plate 48 adjacent the downstream end of declineconveyor 70 is mounted by a universal joint 58 directly to thecorresponding carriage 54. It should be appreciated that both mountingplates 48 could be mounted utilizing different types and foams ofstructures as shown and/or utilizing the same structure on both sides aslong as downstream roller 44 maintains the same lateral relationshipwith guide 22 independent of the angle of downstream roller 44 relativeto the horizontal. Carriages 54 are moved vertically on tracks sets 52such as by crank arms 60 rotatable by first and second servomotors 62,with turnbuckles 64 pivotably connected to crank arms 60 and tocarriages 54.

Apparatus 10 according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention includes an orientation conveyor 74 downstream of and in thesame conveying direction as decline conveyor 70. Orientation conveyor 74is intermittently driven such as by a servomotor. In the preferredembodiment shown, orientation conveyor 74 is moveable between an alignedposition with decline conveyor 70 and an offset position with declineconveyor 70. In the most preferred form, the offset position is in adirection perpendicular to the conveying direction of orientationconveyor 74. Orientation conveyor 74 can be suitably moveably mountedsuch as being mounted on a carriage 76 movably mounted on track set 78.Carriage 76 can be moved on track set 78 such as being attached to abelt of a belt and pulley drive 80 including a servomotor.

An accumulator 86 is provided under orientation conveyor 74 in itsaligned position. In particular, accumulator 86 includes a fixeddownstream vertical retainer plate 88, a movable upstream verticalretainer plate 90, and a horizontal lowerator 92. Retainer plate 90 ismovable between a receiving position and a compressing position spacedcloser to retainer plate 88. In the preferred form, retainer plate 90 isslideably mounted and moved between the receiving and compressingpositions by an air cylinder.

The lowerator 92 is intermittently driven such as by a servomotor todiffering vertical spacing from orientation conveyor 74. A sensor can beprovided to check for the height of the bags positioned on lowerator 92.

One side of accumulator 86 intermediate retainer plates 88 and 90 isformed by a pusher plate 94. Pusher plate 94 is moveable in a pushingdirection extending parallel to lowerator 92 and perpendicular to themovement direction of retainer plate 90 between a receiving position anda loaded position. In the preferred form shown, pusher plate 94 ispivotally mounted to the free end of a horizontal arm 96 which ismounted for horizontal movement such as by a belt and pulley drive 98.Suitable provisions such as an air cylinder 100 are provided to tiltpusher plate 94 relative to arm 96 and the horizontal.

Apparatus 10 includes suitable provisions for presenting the open end ofa carton adjacent to accumulator 86 opposite to pusher plate 94. Itshould be appreciated that the carton can be of a variety of typesand/or forms including the opposite end closed such as by but notlimited to being fan folded or folded and taped. In the most preferredform, the carton is tilted from the horizontal at a small acute angle inthe order of 6°. Also, a suitable device for funneling accumulated bagsin accumulator 86 into the carton can be provided. It should beappreciated that such provisions can be of a variety of forms and typesaccording to the teachings of the present invention.

Apparatus 10 according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention further includes a product scoop 110 moveable between anextended, inclined position and a retracted vertical position relativeto orientation conveyor 74. In particular, in the retracted verticalposition, scoop 110 extends generally perpendicular to the downstreamend of orientation conveyor 74 and generally aligned with andcoextensive to retainer plate 88. In the extended, inclined position,product scoop 110 extends at an acute angle in the order of 45° toorientation conveyor 74 and has an extent upstream of the downstream endof orientation conveyor 74.

Suitable provisions are provided for moving product scoop 110 betweenits inclined and retracted positions. In the form shown, product scoop110 is mounted to a C-shaped frame 112 having its upper ends pivotallyattached to a carriage 114 slideably mounted on vertical track 116. Thelower ends of frame 112 are pivotally attached to the upper end of alever 118 having its lower end pivotally mounted to the frame. As thepivot axes of frame 112 and lever 118 are in a spaced parallel relation,movement of carriage 114 such as under control of a servomotor uponvertical track 116 results in movement of product scoop 110 according tothe preferred teachings of the present invention.

Apparatus 10 according to the preferred teachings of the presentinvention further includes a product pusher 120 movable between a homeposition at the upstream end of decline conveyor 70 and a pushingposition at the upstream end of orientation conveyor 74 and parallel tothe conveying direction of conveyors 70 and 74. Furthermore, productpusher 120 is simultaneously movable in a vertical direction such thatits lower end generally follows and is closely adjacent to declineconveyor 70 as it moves from the home position to the pushing position.Suitable provisions are provided for moving the product pusher 120 suchas being mounted to a carriage 122 slideably mounted to a track 124 formovement in the vertical direction, and with track 124 being moveable ina horizontal direction such as along a linear bearing 126.

Now that the basic construction of apparatus 10 according to thepreferred teachings of the present invention have been set forth, apreferred method of operation can be explained. For purposes ofexplanation, it will be assumed that bags are being received in twistconveyor 40 in a serial manner from adjustment conveyor 20 in thedesired orientation (either in the orientation which they were outputtedor as oriented by orientation adjustment device 16). Further, it will beassumed that there are no bags located on conveyers 70 and 74, and thattwist conveyor 40 is positioned with the end of roller 42 closest toorientation conveyor 74 to be at the same level as and preferably lowerthan the opposite end of roller 42, with roller 42 declining 15° from ahorizontal in the same direction as decline conveyor 70. The bag will beconveyed upon twist conveyor 40 in the conveying direction onto declineconveyor 70. Thereafter, twist conveyor 40 is positioned with the end ofroller 42 closest to orientation conveyor 74 to be above the level ofopposite end of roller 42 and in the preferred form with roller 42declining 15° in the opposite direction as decline conveyor 70. Afterthe bag is placed thereon, decline conveyor 70 is actuated to move thebag a distance which is a fraction of the length of the bag and in thepreferred form in the order of one eighth the length of the bag. Thenext bag will be conveyed by twist conveyor 40 onto declined conveyor 70partially on the previous bag located on decline conveyor 70 andpartially on decline conveyor 70.

It should be appreciated that the angle of downstream roller 42 isadjustable within a plane parallel to the conveying direction of declineconveyor 70. The reason that the end of roller 42 is initially lower isto reduce the drop of the first bag from twist conveyor 40 onto declineconveyor 70 to minimize gravitational forces on the bag which coulddamage the contents thereof. The reason for the end of roller 42 beingelevated is to insure that succeeding bags partially overlap previousbags on decline conveyor 70. In the most preferred form, the first bagdrops onto decline conveyor 70 for a spacing generally equal to thedistance that succeeding bags drop onto decline conveyor 70 and previousbags.

This procedure is continued until the desired number of bags are locatedon orientation conveyor 74 and/or decline conveyor 70. At that time,product pusher 120 located in its home position is lowered so that itsfree end is adjacent to decline conveyor 70. At that time, productpusher 120 is moved towards its pushing position (while simultaneouslybeing vertically lowered to maintain the spacing with decline conveyor70) to push the overlapped bags, with conveyors 70 and 74 also moving atthe same rate of speed as product pusher 120. The first bag contacts andpartially slides up the free end of product scoop 110 located in itsinclined position. After such contact, product scoop 110 is moved fromits inclined position towards its retracted position at the conveyingspeed of conveyors 70 and 74 and product pusher 120 such that the freeend or nose of product scoop 110 moves in the conveying direction. Thus,the bags are moved from being partially overlapped in a collatedcondition to a vertical orientation sandwiched between product scoop 110in its retracted, vertical position and the product pusher 120 in itslowered, pushing position.

When the bags are in their vertical orientation, conveying by conveyor74 and pushing by product pusher 120 is stopped. At that time,orientation conveyor 74 can be moved from its aligned position to itsoffset position and product pusher 120 can be retracted slightly toallow bags in the vertical condition to move into accumulator 86. Afterthe bags move into accumulator 86, lowerator 92 can be lowered adistance depending upon bag size, with the sensor checking to insure allbags are below the lower surface of orientation conveyor 74. Aftersensing has been completed, orientation conveyor 74 is moved from itsoffset position to its aligned position to be ready to receive the nextcycle of bags. After orientation conveyor 74 is in its aligned position,retainer plate 90 is moved to a compressing position, and lowerator 92can be moved up to compress or sandwich the bags against the lowersurface of orientation conveyor 74 (which preferably is in the form of aplate) to define a relatively consistent surface for next rows of bagsto be placed thereon. After compressing, lowerator 92 can be loweredslightly such that the bags in accumulator 86 do not interfere withmovement of orientation conveyor 74 in the next cycle.

It should be appreciated that the next cycle of products could beanother row of bags in a vertical condition or could be row of one ormore bags in a horizontal condition. In this regard, product scoop 110can be maintained in its retracted vertical position and simply acts asa stop if bags are not desired to be orientated in a vertical condition.Furthermore, it is possible to load only a single row of product inaccumulator 86 according to the volume of the carton desired to beloaded.

After the desired number of bags are in accumulator 86, pusher plate 94is actuated to push the bags in accumulator 86 into the carton. As thebags contact the bottom of the case, pusher plate 94 is pivoted relativeto arm 96 to match the angle of the carton, with the tilting of pusherplate 96 and the tilting of the carton allowing the bags to be firmlypositioned in the carton and prevent the bags from falling out. In thisregard, this is especially important if additional layers of bags aresubsequently filled from accumulator 86 in further cycles of operation.

Now that the basics teachings of the present invention have beenexplained, many extensions and variations will be obvious to one havingordinary skill in the art. For example, although apparatus 10 of themost preferred form includes the combination of several, unique featuresbelieved to obtain synergistic results, apparatus for handling productscould be constructed according to the teachings of the present inventionincluding such features singly or in other combinations.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in otherspecific forms without departing from the spirit or generalcharacteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, theembodiments described herein are to be considered in all respectsillustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to beindicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

1. (canceled)
 2. The method of claim 4 with abutting the leading endcomprising abutting the leading end with a bumper, with the methodfurther comprising removing the bumper abutting with the product afterthe product is turned.
 3. The method of claim 2 with removing the bumpercomprising pivoting the bumper from a bumping position extending at anacute angle to the conveying direction to a position parallel to theconveying direction, with the bumper having a pivotal axis perpendicularto the conveying direction and having a free end, with the pivotal axisbeing downstream of the free end.
 4. Method for adjusting orientation ofproduct, with the method comprising: conveying product in a conveyingdirection parallel to and adjacent to a guide extending parallel to theconveying direction, with the product having a width perpendicular tothe conveying direction, with the product having a leading end; abuttingthe leading end of the product at an extent from the guide perpendicularto the conveying direction less than one half of the width and while theproduct is being conveyed, with the product turning until the width ofthe product is parallel to the conveying direction; pushing the productin the conveying direction after the width of the product is parallel tothe conveying direction, with pushing the product comprising pivoting apusher between a position parallel to the conveying direction and apushing position perpendicular to the conveying direction; and movingthe pusher while in the pushing position in the conveying direction. 5.Method for adjusting orientation of product, with the method comprising:conveying product upon a conveyor moving in a conveying directionparallel to and adjacent to a guide extending parallel to the conveyingdirection, with the product having a width perpendicular to theconveying direction, with the product having a leading end, with theconveyor having an upstream end and a downstream end, with the productintroduced on the upstream end and transported to the downstream end inthe conveying direction; moving the product upon the conveyor to beparallel and closely adjacent to the guide, with moving the productcomprising engaging the product with a continuous vertical belt at anonparallel angular relation with the conveying direction; and after theproduct is moved upon the conveyor, abutting the leading end of theproduct at an extent from the guide perpendicular to the conveyingdirection less than one half of the width and while the product is beingconveyed, with the product turning until the width of the product isparallel to the conveying direction. 6-9. (canceled)
 10. Method fororientating product comprising: moving collated product in a conveyingdirection onto a first end of a product scoop, with the collated productincluding at least first and second products each having a length, withthe first and second products being collated with the length of thesecond product only partially extending over the length of the firstproduct in the conveying direction, with the first product located infront of the second product in the conveying direction, with the productscoop being at an acute angle to the conveying direction; and moving thefirst end of the product scoop in the conveying direction after thefirst product slides onto the first end to pivot the product scoop to beperpendicular to the conveying direction to orient the collated productperpendicular to the conveying direction.
 11. The method of claim 10with moving the collated product comprising pushing the collated productwith a pusher moving in the conveying direction.
 12. The method of claim11 with moving the collated product further comprising conveying thecollated product on a conveyor in the conveying direction and at anequal speed to the pusher.
 13. The method of claim 12 with conveying theproduct comprising conveying the collated product on a conveyorincluding a decline conveyor and an orientation conveyor, with theorientation conveyor being perpendicular to the product scoop whenpivoted to be perpendicular to the direction, with the decline conveyorbeing at an acute angle to the orientation conveyor, with the pusherhaving a free end, with the pusher simultaneously moving perpendicularto the direction to have the free end follow the decline conveyor andthe orientation conveyor when moving in the direction.
 14. Method forshifting product comprising: conveying product on a conveyor in aconveying direction, with the conveyor including an upstream roller, adownstream roller, and a continuous annular conveying surface extendingbetween the upstream and downstream rollers; stopping conveying of theproduct; after conveying of the product is stopped, moving the conveyorfrom an aligned position to an offset position perpendicular to theconveying direction and parallel to the upstream and downstream rollerswhile the product is held from moving perpendicular to the conveyingdirection with the conveyor; dropping the product into an accumulatorlocated beneath the conveyor in the aligned position after the conveyoris moved from the aligned position; and moving the conveyor from theoffset position to the aligned position.
 15. The method of claim 14further comprising: supporting the product on a lowerator of theaccumulator when dropped into the accumulator, with the bags having aheight while supported on the lowerator; lowering the lowerator with theheight of the bags being beneath the conveyor while the conveyor is inthe offset position, with moving the conveyor from the offset positionoccurring after lowering the lowerator; raising the lowerator tosandwich the bags against the conveyor in the aligned position; andlowering the lowerator slightly after sandwiching the bags.
 16. Themethod of claim 15 further comprising: pushing the product by a pushplate in the accumulator after lowering the lowerator slightlyperpendicular to the lowerator and into a carton held at a tilt angle;and tilting the push plate to correspond to the tilt angle as theproduct enters the carton.
 17. The method of claim 16 furthercomprising: sandwiching the product in the accumulator before pushingbetween first and second retainer plates extending perpendicular to thelowerator and parallel to the pushing plate, with at least one of thefirst and second retainer plates being moveable perpendicular to thepushing direction and parallel to the lowerator.
 18. The method of claim14 with conveying the product comprising conveying collated product inthe conveying direction onto a first end of a product scoop, with thecollated product including at least first and second products eachhaving a length, with the first and second products being collated withthe length of the second product only partially extending over thelength of the first product in the conveying direction, with the firstproduct located in front of the second product in the conveyingdirection, with the product scoop being at an acute angle to theconveying direction; wherein the method further comprises moving thefirst end of the product scoop in the conveying direction after thefirst product slides onto the first end to pivot the product scoop to beperpendicular to the conveying direction to orient the collated productperpendicular to the conveying direction.
 19. The method of claim 18further comprising: pushing the collated product in the conveyingdirection and at a speed equal to the speed the product is conveyed. 20.Product orientation device comprising, in combination: an adjustmentconveyor for conveying product in a conveying direction; a guideextending parallel to the conveying direction adjacent to the adjustmentconveyor, with the adjustment conveyor having an effective productconveying width perpendicular to the conveying direction beyond theguide; a bumper moveable between an abutting position and anoninterfering position, with the bumper in the abutting position beingspaced in a direction from the guide perpendicular to the conveyingdirection and less than the effective product conveying width, with thebumper in the noninterfering position not interfering with product beingconveyed in the effective product conveying width; and a pusherpivotable between a position parallel to the conveying direction and apushing position perpendicular to the conveying direction and moveablewhile in the pushing position in the conveying direction. 21-22.(canceled)
 23. Product orientation device comprising, in combination: aproduct scoop moveable between an extended, inclined position and aretracted vertical position, with the extended inclined position beingat an acute angle to the retracted vertical position, with the productscoop moving from the extended inclined position to the retractedvertical position as product is moved is moved onto the product scoop;an orientation conveyor for moving product in a conveying direction,with the product scoop having a free end adjacent to the orientationconveyor, with the free end of the product scoop moving in the conveyingdirection from the extended inclined position to the retracted verticalposition; and a pusher moveable in the conveying direction pushingproduct towards the product scoop, with the pusher being moveable at anequal speed to the orientation conveyor.
 24. Product shifting devicecomprising, in combination: an accumulator defining a volume forreceiving product; and an orientation conveyor moving product in aconveying direction and including an upstream roller, a downstreamroller, and a continuous annular conveying surface extending between theupstream and downstream rollers, with the orientation conveyor beingmoveable between an aligned position and an offset position in adirection perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to theupstream and downstream rollers, with the orientation conveyor beingaligned above the accumulator in the aligned position and offset in thedirection from the accumulator in the offset position.
 25. The productshifting device of claim 24 wherein the accumulator comprises alowerator partially defining the volume and for supporting productreceived in the volume of the accumulator, with the lowerator beingmoveable at differing spacings from the orientation conveyor in thealigned position.
 26. The method of claim 4 with conveying the productcomprising conveying the product upon a conveyor moving in the conveyingdirection, with the conveyor having an upstream end and a downstreamend, with the product introduced on the upstream end and transported tothe downstream end in the conveying direction, with the method furthercomprising moving the product upon the conveyor to be parallel andclosely adjacent to the guide prior to being abutted, with moving theproduct comprising engaging the product with a continuous vertical beltat a nonparallel angular relation with the conveying direction.